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Well, the MLB memo stating there will be no Apple Watches allowed during a game wasn’t obeyed by Arizona Diamondbacks staff. D-Backs coach Ariel Prieto was busted for wearing the watch during the National League wild-card game against the Colorado Rockies.

Arizona beat the Rockies in that game, but did the watch have any impact on the outcome? Maybe not, but then again, maybe so.

Yeah, Boston area sports teams were at it again. Deflategate. SpyGate. You know the long list.

Back to Prieto. The coach admitted he knew that having the Apple Watch during the game violated MLB rules and he apologized to D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo. He also offered to turn the device over to league officials. Prieto added he didn’t use the gadget for any illicit purpose and it was on airplane mode, shutting it off to any communication, but that’s all after the fact and the game goes in the books as a Diamondback win.

Question is, do we know for certain it was in airplane mode? And that’s a great question because if that wasn’t the case, it creates a huge advantage to one team in the win-or-go- home Wild Card Game.

While the Red Sox were fined an undisclosed amount, the MLB commissioner confirmed “future violations of this type will be subject to more serious sanctions, including the possible loss of draft picks.”

We’ll wait and see how the league responds but there’s no taking back any cheats that may have helped Arizona win that Wild Card game 11-8.

Roger Goodell and the NFL has suspended Cowboys superstar running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games. The discipline comes at the heels of a one-year investigation that determined Elliott violated the league’s personal conduct policy.

Tiffany Thompson, who identified herself as Elliott’s girlfriend at the time of the incident, presented evidence to the league accusing Elliott of domestic violence. The 22-year-old Elliott has consistently denied those allegations and said he is extremely disappointed with Goodell’s ruling. He posted a response on Twitter shown here.

Elliott will appeal the suspension that includes missing games against the New York Giants, Broncos, Cardinals, L.A. Rams, Packers, and 49ers.

If the appeal fails, fans shouldn’t expect to see Elliott until the end of October in a game against the Washington Redskins.

After reviewing the evidence, the league stated they “…there is substantial and persuasive evidence supporting a finding that Elliott engaged in physical violence against Ms. Thompson on multiple occasions during the week of July 16, 2016.”

During the investigation, the league reviewed photographs taken by Thompson showing her physical injuries following the multiple alleged incidents. The league said they determined that:

“Photographic and medical forensic evidence corroborates many critical elements of the allegations regarding the causes of her injuries.”

This isn’t the first time Elliott has received off the field attention. Remember the incident in New Orleans when he was captured on video pulling up the shirt of a female, exposing her breasts in public? Here’s that incident.

Steve Bartman showed how to make lemonade out of the most bitter lemons anyone could ever imagine. Bartman received a 2016 World Series ring from the Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts. Yeah, he really received an authentic personalized WS ring, that is not a typo.

Bartman became a household villain name in the Windy City in 2003 when he leaned in to catch a foul ball and interfered with a Cubs player, giving the Marlins an extra out in the 8th inning of the crucial NL Championship Game 6.

The Marlins took advantage and lit it up, scoring eight runs to win the game and went on to win the series and eliminate the Cubs.

Ricketts presented a personalized ring to Bartman, pictured here, and the Cubs issued a statement that included:

“On behalf of the entire Chicago Cubs organization, we are honored to present a 2016 World Series championship ring to Mr. Steve Bartman. We hope this provides closure on an unfortunate chapter of the story that has perpetuated throughout our quest to win a long-awaited World Series.”

Bartman, who has never spoken publicly since that 2003 gaffe released a statement that included:

“I am deeply moved and sincerely grateful to receive an official Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series Championship ring. Most meaningful is the genuine outreach from the Ricketts family, on behalf of the Cubs organization and fans, signifying to me that I am welcomed back into the Cubs family and have their support going forward. I am relieved and hopeful that the saga of the 2003 foul ball incident surrounding my family and me is finally over.”

It is, Mr. Bartman. Thanks to a dramatic comeback win in Game 7 World Series last year, with a little help from a rain delay.

Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry has a new contract. A deal that was the richest in the history of the NBA. Well, it was when he signed it but it was short lived and beaten out.

Curry inked a five-year deal worth $201 million. Yeah, that’s worth a bold headline, but then along came Rockets’ James Harden’s deal that beat it out at $228 million.

Photo: Keith Allison Wiki Commons

Curry, who many consider the best shooter in NBA history, has collected a room full of hardware that includes NBA MVP (2015, 2016) and two NBA Championships (2015, 2017).

This deal is huge but it also can be considered to include some “back pay”. Curry earned $12 million this past season and when you look at the year he had and the team taking home another championship, he was a steal at that price. The new deal pays him $40 million per season.

The Warriors are now all in with this new deal and hope Curry can keep up the pace he has shown. In last season’s payoffs, Curry dropped 28.1 PPG, added 6.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists.

The NBA Finals MVP went to his teammate Kevin Durant, though, who also inked a new deal. Durant’s deal is only for two seasons and worth an estimated $26.5 per season.

Curry’s deal clearly identifies him as the face of the Warriors’ franchise.

Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr:

“He’s a very humble, modest human being…and he’s an arrogant basketball player, which is what you need to be a superstar. It’s a pretty powerful force.”

With Curry and Durant locked down for the next two seasons, the Warriors are trying to create a dynasty.

Boxing once again reminded the world how unpredictable it can be when judges handed battered underdog Jeff Horn the WBO welterweight championship belt.

Manny Pacquiao lost the controversial decision against Horn, a former teacher, after a brutal 12 rounds between the fighters.

The former Australian Olympian Horn set the tone and came out swinging, and head-butting, to start the fight. Horn won the early rounds, charging Pacquiao and throwing whatever combinations he had and trying to trap Manny in the corners.

But Pacquiao’s experience came into play after his corner cut man controlled the bleeding of two cuts, both from head butts. Manny came back storming in the middle and later rounds tallying what most thought were convincing rounds. Well, most meaning everyone but the judges.

At one point the referee warned the beaten down Horn between rounds that if he could not show some signs of being able to continue on an offensive nature that he would end the fight.

Then came the end of the fight, after the final bell when the fate of the fighters was placed on the judges. Although the stats weighed heavily in favor of Manny, heavily in favor, the judge’s cards showed the contrary, erupting social media.

Look at the image in this article then look at these judge’s scorecards and you be the “judge” if this fight was a “hometown decision” or not. Unanimous decision for Horn; with 117-111, 115-113, 115-113 results.

After the fight, the 38-year-old, 11-time champion Pacquiao handled the controversial decision with class, saying:

“That’s the decision of the judges. I respect that. We have a rematch clause, so no problem.”

Las Vegas had Horn (17-0-1 prior to this fight) listed as a heavy underdog at +450 or +500, meaning bettors who put $100 on Horn, won $450 or $500.

Pacquiao was such a heavy favorite he was talking about a rematch with Mayweather before the controversial loss.

This fight may be a warning to bettors that were considering loading up on Floyd Mayweather for his upcoming fight in August with Conor McGregor. Mayweather was listed as a -650 favorite and McGregor as the +475 underdog.

Tiger Woods DUI arrest and mugshot hit the internet after golf’s former poster child got busted on Memorial Day in his home state of Florida.

Woods was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and needs to appear in court on July 5.

Woods was cited for suspicion of DUI and improper parking while the records indicated there was no crash or damage to property, unlike the incident years ago that occurred in his neighborhood outside of Orlando.

Woods made a statement saying he had “an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications.” The golfer who is currently rehabbing after having back surgery added:

“I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions.” – Tiger Woods.

According to a Jupiter police spokesperson, the arrest occurred at about 3 a.m. Monday and Woods was booked into a local jail and later released on his own recognizance with no bond a few hours later.

Joakim Noah can now add a suspension to his resume. The New York Knicks center tested positive for an over the counter supplement that is banned under the league’s current collective bargaining agreement.

The NBA made the announcement on Saturday and said the suspension is for 20 games and is expected to be split into blocks of ten games. The final ten games of this season and the first ten regular season games next season.

This incident is just another thorn in the side of the Noah acquisition by the Knicks. The 32-year-old went under the knife for his left knee last month and has been off the court since Feb. 4.

With that surgery, games missed with injury and suspension, the Noah signing must be feeling like a bust to Knicks fans. The team inked the former NBA All-Star to a $72 million four-year deal last summer expecting him to bring defensive swag to the team. But Noah has missed a lot of time with injuries, including a hammy and left knee, and has underachieved when on the court, averaging just 5.0 points and 8.8 boards per game (in 46 starts).

As a youngster, Noah idolized the Knicks and always dreamed of playing for the team. There’s still time for him to get his act back together on the court but at the moment, the Knicks hold a dismal 27-45 record and are sitting eight games behind the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Wasn’t Phil Jackson supposed to be the savior for this once great franchise?

Former San Francisco 49ers legend Dwight Clark announced he has ALS. The 60 year old posted the message on a blog that went so viral it crashed the site.

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, has no cure and affects the nervous system. It gained national attention when the “ice bucket challenge” went viral nationwide years ago.

In the blog Clark wrote:

“After months of tests and treatment, I got some bad news. I was diagnosed with (ALS). Those words are hard for me to say. While I wrap my head around the challenge I will face with the disease over the coming years, the only thing I know is that I’m gonna fight like hell and live every day to the fullest.”

Clark went on to say he is losing strength in his hand that makes buttoning a shirt impossible and he can no longer play golf or walk any distances but added that his symptoms are progressing slower than in most patients.

Now the first thing that comes to people’s minds is whether head injuries and CTE can be a cause of this disease. Although no facts and stats are available to support that, a study in 2012 concluded that former football players contracted ALS at a four times higher rate than the rest of the population.

Clark left a huge mark in NFL history when he teamed up with quarterback Joe Montana in 1981 to make “The Catch”. On the play, Clark’s left his feet in the back of the end zone to make a leaping catch and defeat the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship game.

He later retired at age 30 after playing nine seasons with the 49ers and was also the general manager for the team in 1998.

Another NFL player diagnosed with ALS is former New Orleans Saints’ Steve Gleason. Gleason is fighting severe symptoms and has been promoting awareness to the disease with much of that publicity coming from his documentary called, “Gleason.” He also has a Facebook page here.

Kevin Turner is another former player who was first believed to have contacted ALS, died in March 2016 at age 46. Although ALS was first considered as the cause, a later study suggested that Turner had advanced CTE and that led to his death.

Former Oakland Raiders and USC Trojans quarterback Todd Marinovich pleaded guilty this past week to misdemeanor public nudity, trespassing and drug charges. The five charges stem from his arrest last year in Irvine, California.

Todd Marinovich mugshot

Marinovich’s guilty plea produced a 90-day jail sentence from the courts. But his attorney, Adam Cole, said the jail sentence is stayed if Marinovich completes six months in an outpatient rehab facility and three years of probation.

Marinovich, 47 years old, was busted in August after police were called about someone wandering around naked in a backyard. Police arrived on the scene and later said Marinovich was naked and had a bag that contained methamphetamine, weed, syringes, and other drug paraphernalia.

According to Cole, Marinovich checked into an out patient drug rehab center after that arrest and is doing well with treatments. He went on to say his client has been testing clean since that August arrest.

Marinovich has had a long list of drug related arrests over the years; approximately nine in Orange County, California alone. One of his past arrests occurred when he was attending USC in 1991 and was busted for possession of cocaine. Others were for much more minor incidents like possession of marijuana and skateboarding in no skate zones. But none seemed as bizarre as this most recent arrest in Irvine.

Regardless of his long history, an opportunity to finally stay clean and avoid being thrown behind bars is in place for the former football star.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott may have set himself up for an unpleasant visit with NFL commish Roger Goodell to discuss the league’s personal conduct policy. Unless of course, pulling down a woman’s top to expose her breasts in public is not a violation of that policy.

TMZ posted videos of Elliott on a bar rooftop, beverage in hand at a St. Patrick’s Day parade event in Dallas, pulling a woman’s shirt down to expose her breasts in public.

Photo: Keith Allison Wiki

In the video, you can see the 21-year-old Elliott, having a beverage on a crowded bar rooftop, pulling down the woman’s shirt during the event. Reports said that Elliott’s rep told TMZ:

“It was all in good fun.”

But we’re not sure how fun it was for the woman. In the second video, the woman appears pretty pissed as she glares back at Elliot and pushes away his hand.

You would expect Elliott to be on his best behavior since the NFL is still investigating him for “allegations of domestic violence” from a 2016 claim made by his ex-girlfriend. Goodell recently stated that case is still open with no timetable on the league’s verdict.

Elliott was the NFL’s leading rusher and had one of the league’s top jersey sales last season. Can’t help to wonder if it were a practice squad player or a second tier back if the treatment would be the same.